Discussion

Best weekday lunch in Meatpacking, Chelsea, West Village

I'm looking for reasonably priced take-out and fairly-quick (in and out within an hour) lunch spots for a party of 4 near my office, which is right by the Standard in the Meatpacking district (W. 13th St./Washington St.). Please list your recommendations below, and point out any standout dishes. Thanks!

Here's a list we currently have on rotation:

*(Brackets) denotes restaurants I wouldn't travel out of my way for, but only eat at for lunch/take-out since I'm nearby and craving a specific item that can't be found in the immediate neighborhood. If you know of place that has a better version of the dish I listed in the neighborhood, please share!

(SEA Thai) – Not special, but cheap & not bad for a $9 lunch (appetizer + entree). Best on the lunch menu: steamed chicken and shrimp dumplings, grilled pork chop. Gripe: very skimpy on rice (literally only give you 3-4 bites).

(Bill's Burger) – Burger, malted milkshake, chili cheese fries.

Corner Bistro – Burgers + fries.

(Tavern on Jane) – No-frills American food. $12 lunch specials. Menu not too exciting and very basic, but it's cozy and homey.

$20 AND OVER (Because sometimes, it's OK to splurge)

(Morimoto) – $24 prix fixe (braised black cod box with salad, tempura, sushi, miso soup, and fruit panna cotta). Don't order the ramen here, it's a bowl of $15 chicken consomme with a few strands of inaniwa udon which they call ramen and a few strips of chicken. Sadness. I'm sorry, but inaniwa udon ≠ ramen. Sure, you can stretch the meaning of ramen/拉麵 (no pun intended), which literally means pulled noodles and hence can be any pulled noodles, but honestly, I was disappointed.

If you're looking for pasta, in your "$20 AND OVER" category you should certainly add Del Posto. $29 prix fixe for three courses, you could theoretically be in & out in an hour depending how fast you all eat. It is better to linger there and enjoy, though.

Next door, the Colicchio & Sons "Tap Room" has a lunch prix fixe for $25, IIRC. 2 courses. Could probably pull that one off quicker than Del Posto.

For cheaper pasta, walk up to Donatella. Pizza's good, haven't tried the pasta yet personally. but I suspect they do it right. Most dishes are under $20. A little further North there's also Bar Baresco and Chelsea Ristorante.

In various other directions but all within walking distance, you've got Barbuto, Centro Vinoteca, and the new Frankies 570 Spuntino.

I went to Co Ba today, and had probably one of the best Summer Rolls I've had in NYC! (Tom Cuon – grilled prawns in soft rice paper with rice noodles, basil and lettuce, and a peanut dipping sauce). It was $7 for 2 skinnier-than-expected rolls, but it was well worth it since the grilled shrimp was very fresh and well prepared. The roll focused on the shrimp and didn't contain too much vermicelli. Some might say not enough vermicelli, but it was delicate and well balanced in my opinion.

I also had the Banh Mi Thit (assorted cold nuts, grilled honey plum-glazed pork, house made pickles, cilantro, jalapenos and mayo on a french baguette) for $7.50, which was pretty good.

Just wish they'd have paté in heir banh mis. Will ask the next time I'm there.